Nunnery and Institute

His Holiness the Dalai Lama bestowed upon us the name THOSAMLING, which means "place of study and reflection."

We are an international community of nuns and female lay practitioners living and studying within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. We are nonsectarian and draw inspiration from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. We provide a unique opportunity for ordained Sangha, and those who wish to live with Dharma central to their lives, to live and learn in a supportive environment.

Our main focus is to support the flourishing of Dharma throughout the world by providing opportunities to listen to, reflect on, and study the teachings of the Buddha in a nonsectarian way. We are in particular a place of refuge for newly ordained nuns, giving them a firm foundation in study and practice. By nurturing and supporting the Sangha jewel we in turn create a community that inspires others to practice Dharma for the benefit of all.

As part of our commitment to supporting and spreading the Dharma, we provide a Tibetan Language Program for the Buddhist community. Learning Tibetan is very beneficial to all practitioners, as it allows direct contact with our precious teachers and the Dharma. This focus of study also opens the door to opportunities for translating and interpreting, which are valuable avenues for practitioners to be able support themselves.

Alongside the Tibetan Language Program, Thosamling also offers a comprehensive program of Buddhist Philosophy taught by Lharampa Geshe Tsewang Nyima. Geshe-la is a recognized expert in Vinaya, responsible for establishing study programs in the nearby Drolmaling Nunnery as well as at Ki Gompa in Spiti at the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Buddhist Philosophy program provides solid grounding in study and debate, providing nuns with another potential option to support themselves through teaching in their home countries.

Elements of spiritual practice such as training in ritual, preliminaries and supported personal retreat complement the Language and Philosophy programs. Residents and visitors also benefit from our Guest Teacher program, which welcomes revered Dharma teachers from around the world to share their teachings at Thosamling.

Finally, our community projects also allow participants to engage Buddhism in direct benefit to the community.

Our location in the quiet foothills of the spectacular Dhauladhar Range of the Himalayas places us close to significant teachers from all four Buddhist lineages. These include His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa, Khamtrul Rinpoche, Tai Situ Rinpoche and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, just to name a few.

Although Thosamling is primarily a nunnery, its ability to survive and prosper is dependent on a strong and vibrant international community of Dharma practitioners. We invite you to learn more about our programs and community and come visit us for a tour or stay.

"I am impressed with the progress that Thosamling Institute has made so far and happily offer my encouragement and moral support. I would like to request other people who may also be interested, to extend whatever assistance they can, financial or otherwise, to help ensure the success of this worthy project."